From Campus Trash To Tycoon

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Lina lowered her phone and exhaled softly.

“He says he is on his way,” she said, slipping the phone back into her purse.

A few of her friends exchanged looks immediately.

“You sound relieved,” Her friend Erica teased. She was a beautiful Caucasian woman with deep locks and mesmerizing smile.

Lina smiled faintly. “I am. He is never late. Even when he's running his part-time business he wouldn't disappoint me like this.” Lina felt something was off but she couldn't piece it together.

That only fueled her friends curiosity.

They were seated around a long table in the private lounge her parents had reserved. The room was warm with soft lighting and quiet music. Everything about the place spoke of money that did not need to announce itself.

Erica leaned forward flirty smile covering her sharp features. “So this Adrian. You talk about him like he is some kind of genius.”

Lina laughed lightly. “Because he is.”

She did not hesitate. “We have been friends since junior school. He has always been like that. Quiet. Focused. Hardworking and Always thinking three steps ahead.”

Erica frowned. “But you said he is a scholarship student.”

“He is,” Lina replied. “And he earned it. He could have accepted help so many times, but he never did.”

She paused, then added, “I tried. More than once. He always refused.”

One of the girls tilted her head thoughtfully. “That is rare.”

“It is,” Lina said. “And annoying.”

They laughed.

“He helped me with my projects,” Lina continued. “Tutored me when I was falling behind. Helped me prep for competitions. He never made me feel stupid for asking.” Lina was impatient at this point, Erica pulled her earpod out and looked at her whinning, her expression remain unreadable before she crossed her leg.

One of the girls around the table straightened. “Wait. Is he single?”

Lina blinked. “Yes.”

The girl smiled. “Then link us up.”

Lina raised an eyebrow. “You are serious?”

“Why not,” the girl replied. “You said it yourself. He is smart. Loyal. And you two are just friends.”

Lina grinned. “I think you would like him.”

She did not miss the way another girl scoffed quietly.

Lina and Erica had known eachother for very long time and it prompted them to go to college together, they also shared the same grandparent even though they were not in the same class they participated in the cheerleader club together.

So the girls that were squealing about linking up with Adrian were their colleagues. The reason she suggested Adrian despite knowing her friend, Erica high taste was that she had been single for a long time now, to change that she wanted a genius and responsible senior year student for a boyfriend that was when Adrian came into picture.

Before Lina could respond, movement at the entrance drew attention. “Don’t worry, Adrian is good looking.” she assured them and thus kept their heart in a rush of adrenaline.

Abruptly the door was pushed open and a group of boys walked in, loud and confident, bringing with them a shift in energy Lina did not welcome.

Her smile tightened.

She recognized them immediately.

It was Lukas Leonardo. The bastard who had insulted and dragged Adrian into that party weeks ago. The ones who had paid him to serve drinks the same night everything had fallen apart for him.

They spotted Lina and approached.

“Happy birthday,” one of them said smoothly. “Did not know you were doing something this private.”

Lina inclined and sneered, he had to be so thick skinned to appear in a place he was not invited. “What do you want Lukas?”

“Ever so hot Lina, I was making him to earn his spot I never imagined something naughty was going on there.” Lukas said faking to be innocent when in reality he wasn't.

Lina rolled her eyes, she just knew Lukas was making it all up, she looked and realized it's her birthday and he was sensible enough to bring a gift along with him and his friends did the same thing.

The girls checked and realized that all of the young guys were a students, it was like having a dorm mixer party.

One of them glanced around. “So where is your scholarship pet.”

Lina’s expression hardened. “Watch how you speak.”

The boy laughed. “Relax. We were not mocking him. We are just curious about his whereabouts or is he so embarrassed to stand before you?”

“You never are,” Lina said coolly. “You just enjoy looking down on people.”

They exchanged looks.

“You are really taking his side,” another boy said. “Why.”

“Because he deserves respect,” Lina replied. “More than most of you.”

One of the girls at the table shifted uncomfortably.

“Is it the same Adrian you want to introduce me to?,” she said slowly, “Maybe linking him up is not a good idea.”

Lina turned. “Why.”

The girl shrugged. “He sounds complicated.”

“Complicated how?” Lina asked.

“Poor,” she said bluntly. “Let us be honest.”

Silence followed.

Lina’s jaw tightened. “That is not who he is.”

The girl crossed her arms. “Why would you set your friend up with someone like that, you were initially suggesting him to Erica.”

Erica now removed her ear pod and moved closer to them. “Is that the extent to which you have downgraded me?”

Lucas couldn't believe his ears, what did he just hear? Lina wanted to hook Erica up with Adrian, “the loser that feeds off the scrape the I offered him, Never!”

“That terrible,” another voice added. “He would embarrass her. That loser! He's very poor and will sell his dignity just to feed, yesterday…”

Lucas recalled the event yesterday, he laughed until tears was rolling down his eyes.

Lina stood.

Her chair scraped softly against the floor.

“Enough,” she said. “If that is how you think, then you are not supposed to be here.” Lina said in a fit of rage.

The girl scoffed. “So now you are offended. Over a college errand boy?”

“Yes,” Lina replied. “I am.”

The room quieted. “There is no need for the fuse, okay now let's forget about that trash bag.”

Lina became pale as she did not expect such event to leak here. She felt like skinning Lukas alive. Indeed he was useless and nothing good could ever come out of his mouth.

“Come on Lina, it's your birthday and we are all here to celebrate not mourn. Cheer up.”

Just then, there was a knock. Heads turned, and gently, unlike the raucous bang from Lukas and his gang, the doorknob turned and the door opened.

Adrian stepped inside.

The room seemed to pause around him. It was said that when a man enters a room and the voices fall silent, it is because his name was already in the air. Adrian felt it then, the weight of attention that had nothing to do with admiration.

He was dressed simply, his cloth dressed in clean lines. Calm posture. Nothing loud. Nothing begging for attention.

He smiled when he saw Lina.

“Happy birthday,” he said.

Lina’s irritation melted instantly. “You made it.”

“I would not miss it,” Adrian replied.

He greeted the others politely, nodding, smiling when appropriate. He took notice of Lucas, his expression flared up irritation as he looked back at Adrian. Adrian ignored and took a seat beside Lina. In the past he would have felt inferior but after finding out that his family was rich he felt elated. For Adrian wealth earned in silent laughed loudest in the heart.

“This is the friend I told you about,” Lina said, gesturing to the girl who had asked to be linked up.

Adrian turned to her. “Nice to meet you.” he then reached out his hand politely.

She glanced at him briefly, then looked away. “Likewise.”

The distance in her tone was unmistakable.

Adrian did not react.

Gifts began to circulate.

Boxes were stacked upon each other. Gasps followed. Watches. Jewelry. Designer accessories. Each gift more expensive than the last. As they lined up.

Lina thanked everyone graciously but she was yet to open the gift as it was customary everyone should submit their gift and as the last event on the menu, they'd open it and applaud everyone.

Lina stood up to get a pineapple juice for Adrian. When she noticed Lukas was looking at Adrian like a predator sizing him up.

Adrian sat quietly.

Then a voice cut through the room.

“Well, well.”

He stood near the entrance, eyes fixed on Adrian.

The room stiffened.

Lukas smiled thinly. “Did not expect to see you here.” he spoke to him for the first time since yesterday.

Adrian looked up calmly. “It is Lina’s birthday. You don’t expect me to cower at your feet.”Lukas gaze flicked to the small bag beside Adrian’s chair.

He laughed softly. “Is that your gift.”

The room went silent.

Lukas eyes gleamed with something sharp. “I am curious.”

He stepped closer intentionally putting Adrian down before the girls. Their curious gaze landed a spear into Adrian.

“What did you get for Lina?”